Evaluation of Fetal Outcome in High-Risk Term Pregnancies Using Non-Stress Test at a Tertiary Hospital in Southeastern Nigeria
Obi Adaeze Chidiogo
Department of Radiology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria.
Okafor Chisolum Ogechukwu
Department of Radiology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria.
Nwosu Chinekwu Skye *
Department of Radiology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria.
Obi Darlington Chukwudinma
Department of Community Medicine, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Nigeria.
Obasikene Catherine Nchedo
Department of Radiology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria.
Eze Kenneth C
Department of Radiology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria.
Ezenri Uche
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Introduction: High-risk pregnancies include pregnancy with co-existing chronic illnesses like diabetes, hypertension, asthma, pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, renal disease, HIV, auto-immune diseases, etc. A high-risk pregnancy is defined as a pregnancy in which there is a significant probability of an adverse maternal or fetal outcome that is more than the incidence of that outcome in the general populace.
Aim: To evaluate the outcome of high-risk term pregnancies using non-stress tests.
Materials and Method: A prospective study of 160 subjects using non-stress tests to evaluate high-risk term pregnancies at NAUTH, Nnewi.
Results: The most frequent age group of occurrence was 25-34 years. There were more multigravida than primigravida women. The fetal outcomes were as follows; fetal distress absent in 91.1%, clear amniotic fluid = 91.8% while meconium-stain = 8.2%, admission into neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) = 12.0%, no stillbirths were recorded, and neonatal birth weight > 2.5kg = 94.3% while < 2.5kg = 5.7%. The association between NST and fetal outcomes showed fetal distress, admission into the NICU, amniotic fluid colour, mode of delivery, and APGARS score were not statistically significant p > 0.05. The association between fetal birth weight and NST was statistically significant p < 0.05.
Conclusion: There is an association between non-stress tests and fetal birth weight.
Keywords: High-risk, pregnancy, fetal outcomes, birth weight, non-stress test